What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to identify suicide risk and protective factors for young people in out-of-home care, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions.

March 3, 2026Open Access

Suicide risk, protective factors, and interventions for young people in out-of-home care: a scoping review

Key Points

The aim is to identify suicide risk and protective factors for young people in out-of-home care, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions.
Conducted a scoping review of existing literature
Identified gaps in young people's voice and response mechanisms
Evaluated assessment tools for effectiveness in out-of-home care contexts
Demonstrated a need for gender-sensitive approaches
Highlighted gaps in the inclusion of young people's voices
Called for adapted frameworks for suicide prevention in out-of-home care settings

Abstract

The findings demonstrate the need for gender-sensitive, relationally driven approaches and more robust multi-item assessment tools. This review highlights critical gaps in young people's voice inclusion and calls for codesigned interventions with care-experienced young people. The implications for policy and practice include strengthening professional development for carers and adapting existing suicide prevention frameworks to the OOHC context.

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